Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Fresh Nubie with a find!

Hope I'm right on this. Found a visible gas pump in pieces at an auction in OK yesterday. Bought it cheap as no one seemed interested. Got it home and immediately had to wash the mud off to see what I had. Blue glass top was my first hint. Gingerly took off the nuts and removed the rods and glass. It was filled to the brim with grass and dirt. Inside was most of the gallon markers. The top has two holes in it, but not terribly bad. Think I'll still use it. Is this a Fry 117? Dreamed about it overnight and now I have the fever. No bolts to put it together even, but want to set it all up. What is the best way to stop the rusting? Do I have to sand blast through the rust and paint it to stop the process? Don't have much room to put it inside if no other option, but got to make some decisions on whether to attempt a restore or leave it to the pros. Thanks to anyone with helpful advice.

Welcome to oldgas.com

Welcome to Oldgas.com Shop Talk.

If you are going to sell it, it is better to sell just as you have it, cleaned up and easy to see what is there. Putting a bunch of money into restoration does not automatically get you more money than you put in. Most gas pump collectors prefer buying unrestored, especially if the resto was done by someone not experienced in gas pumps.

If you are planning on keeping it and possibly displaying outside, sandblast the rusted parts, coat with automotive etching primer and automotive quality paint. Post questions here to get help on the way.

Do it up nice. You wont regret a minute of it. You will however now have to find a source for your new addiction. There are dealers all over the country selling this new drug. Fry Mae West pumps are a gateway drug leading to all sorts of new ones. Before you know it you will be hooked on signs, globes, and an occasional quart can. You might even start going to raves disguised as "gas and oil" shows. Youll even start hanging out with other addicts, people your wife will not consider good role models. There is only one way to handle this problem and that is to buy something else with your children's college fund or the rent money. Anyhow good luck with your new project .

Welcome to OldGas! You have a cool pump there.

Great pump, but a difficult one for your first! What you have is a bunch of parts of a pump with a lot of parts missing.
It all depends on what you want to accomplish with your first pump? If I was to make recommendations, I'd say sell the parts and start shopping for a complete pump that you won't spend the next 2 years searching for parts for!
If you just want to assemble it "as is" with parts missing, you could have some rusty yard art that will resemble an old Fry pump, and in the meantime, you can go looking for a complete unit.
Trying to piece together a parts missing pump will usually put you "over the top" in the pricing department, and you would be better off with a complete one for a bigger initial investment.
Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

Craigslist post id 4533453567

Looks like it's up for sale.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/atq/4533453567.html

Good Catch Grasshopper.

Definitely not passing on that good deal! Lol.

HHhhmmm? Came in asking questions and leaves with all the answers!

Have to love the state of our hobby now a days...LOL

Kevin,
CL ad says he gonna start restoring & price will go up.
Just like ebay, ya can ASK anything & it still won't sell.
Comparing Rusty Pieces to ebay ASKING Prices, LOL.

Appears like the fevers gone, but the dreaming is continuing.

Thats what happens after that first hit. You just want to get higher.

For sale Hemi Cuda missing motor, doors,hood, trunk, seats, body severely dented car was in 2 demolition derbies, also no title possibly stolen from original owner.
$1,000,000.00 Firm I know what I have will not negotiate.

Wow and he found it here in OK and it even comes with "gallonage tags " .....sheesh

Pretty proud of not just his pile of some parts for a fry pump but also his restoration skills. It's the Red Hot generation!! LOL

This will turn into another "those oldgas guys are so mean to us newbies" This is a perfect example of inserting yourself in a situation you know nothing about and becoming an overnight expert. Just in case to OP reads any of this your pump has a value of about $800 IMHO.

example after example like this really made me understand why the people in this hobby a long time hate giving values

I think Mike Wolfe needs to do an intervention with his disciples; they drinking his Koolaid but I think someone has spiked it!

Agree

Wow! Came in sounding like a humble Mr. Hide, and went to CL as Dr. Jekyll.
Or Bruce Banner and then the Hulk.

Take your pick.

...maybe they could try Jim Jones' recipe...